Kenneth Bermudez, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 20 years of experience. He is committed to helping his San Francisco cosmetic and reconstructive surgery patients achieve — and often exceed — their cosmetic goals.

Breast Fat Grafting San Francisco Surgeon  Kenneth Bermudez, MD

Dr. Kenneth Bermudez is a talented San Francisco plastic surgeon who stays abreast of the latest advancements in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. As such, he is able to employ innovative techniques, such as natural fat grafting, to enhance the effects of breast augmentation and reconstruction procedures.

What is Breast Fat Grafting?

Fat grafting is a natural way to augment breasts or restore the shape of breasts during breast reconstruction surgery. Women seeking breast fat grafting in San Francisco typically do so for one of the following reasons:

Desire for larger and /or fuller breasts without breast implants

To correct breast asymmetry naturally

To enhance or improve the aesthetic results of breast reconstruction surgery following lumpectomy or mastectomy

During consultation, Dr. Bermudez will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the fat grafting process as well as your individual aesthetic goals and expectations for breast fat grafting surgery. He will utilize this information to determine the proper course of surgical treatment to best suit your unique needs.

Who is a Candidate for Breast Fat Grafting?

Although breast fat grafting is an effective tool for augmenting or reshaping breasts, there are some limitations. For instance, breast fat grafting can generally only provide augmentation of about one cup size. Also, some fat cells may not survive in their new location. Thus, suitable breast fat grafting candidates have sensible expectations for the outcome of surgery; they seek improvement in the size, shape or fullness of breasts, not perfection. Appropriate candidates have carefully weighed the risks versus the rewards of the procedure. They have an overall positive self-image but are simply bothered by one aspect of their appearance. They are in good mental and physical health, and have independently made the decision to pursue this procedure.

Contact our cosmetic surgery office for more information on candidacy for breast enhancement or reconstruction with fat grafting.

Breast Fat Grafting Procedure

The surgical fat grafting procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia. It generally takes Dr. Bermudez about four hours to complete the procedure, but the length of the procedure can vary depending on certain factors, such as if the San Francisco breast surgeon is simply augmenting breasts or reconstructing them, the latter of which is a more complex process.

Fat grafting, also known as fat transfer, in breast surgery involves: harvesting unwanted fat from certain areas of the body, most commonly the abdomen or thighs; purifying the harvested fat; and carefully injecting it into the area of the body requiring enhancement or restoration.

Dr. Bermudez often requires breast augmentation patients to wear a tissue-expansion bra prior to and after the fat grafting procedure to create space for the donated fat cells, improving their chance of survival in the new location.

Dr. Bermudez offers the revolutionary BRAVA device, a soft, gel-like bra that is used to expand the external breast tissue in preparation for fat transfer. While the concept of tissue expansion is not a new one, the BRAVA device is unique in its execution. Developed by Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Roger Khouri, the BRAVA device puts gentle external tension on the breasts to expand the tissues. Dr. Bermudez asks his patients to wear the device while they sleep. (It is most comfortable if the patient sleeps on her back while wearing the BRAVA device.) Over the course of a few weeks of use, the BRAVA device enlarges the fat transfer site and prepares it for the injection of the fat cells.

Breast Fat Grafting Recovery

Depending on the surgical goals for breast fat grafting, patients may need to take one to two weeks off from work or their usual schedule following surgery. During this time, they should get plenty of rest and avoid any strenuous activity and heavy lifting. However, they should also walk around the house periodically when they can to help minimize the chance of developing blood clots.

The treated area may be swollen, bruised, tender or numb. Fat grafting patients may experience pain or discomfort after surgery, but this can be treated by applying ice packs and taking oral pain medication as instructed by Dr. Bermudez. These symptoms are normal and will subside over time. Dr. Bermudez will advise patients when they can return to their usual activities, including their exercise program.

Possible Complications

Every surgery carries innate risks, whether it is an elective procedure or not. Surgical breast fat grafting in augmentation or reconstruction procedures is no exception. Dr. Bermudez is diligent about taking every precaution at his disposal to minimize the risk of possible surgical complications. However, potential complications with breast fat grafting include:

Allergic or adverse reaction to anesthesia

Excessive bleeding

Excessive swelling

Loss of fat viability, resulting in failed breast augmentation

Blood clots

Infection

Slow healing

Significant scarring

Scar asymmetry

Breast asymmetry

Changes in breast or nipple sensation, including persistent numbness

The San Francisco breast augmentation and reconstruction surgeon will review all associated risks with you during your preoperative consultation.

Contact the Practice of Dr. Bermudez Today

Aside from offering the innovative breast fat grafting procedure, Dr. Kenneth Bermudez is also a highly respected provider of facelift surgery, rhinoplasty, liposuction and abdominoplasty in San Francisco, among many other plastic surgery specialties. Please schedule a personal consultation to learn more about the available surgical treatment options.